Jump to content

The Camera Eye


Lorraine
 Share

Recommended Posts

On the original album track, he's got a couple layers from the Oberheim OB-X synth - one playing chords, the other fades in and out with the sample/hold effect (possibly the fluttering you're talking about - sounds like random computer blips and bleeps). The chord he keeps playing is a 'suspended' chord too, which gives it that wanting-to-resolve feeling. Same thing he does on songs like Chemistry - that opening suspended chord hits you over the head with that unresolved feeling. Since he's using modern synths now, he's surely just triggering samples of all this (esp. the sample/hold effect).

 

I love Camera Eye, definitely a showcase of unique Rush synth sounds. One subtle thing I like is the low notes he plays during the intro after the drums come in. They're barely noticeable unless you listen to the isolated synth track, and he only does it a couple times. Sounds like frog farts or something.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think some of the melancholy some are associating with the song could also be the lyrics, talking about a soft, English rain, to paraphrase. That gray imagery always has stuck in my mind when I listen, coupled with the New York imagery, of just steel and concrete ... more grayness. But there can be something soothing in melancholy too. And the music conveys that I think.

 

I do like the way Alex's guitar starts off really slow and open and almost sad, similar to La Villa. But then he goes from a solo that is almost half time to one that ramps up to almost a double time thing. That little flourish at the end - which I am assuming was an overdub because he doesn't play it live - sort of caps it off for me. Good stuff.

Edited by Wil1972
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

As long as I have your ear here :LOL: , I'm watching Time Machine now like I said.

 

Witch Hunt - immediately after Geddy sings the last line of the song - Alex starts playing something I never noticed before on the song. I don't hear it on the album cut at all.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There is a Signals tour video on YouTube that's got Camera Eye, although it doesn't help if you're trying to watch their playing close up (kind of far audience footage). I believe if you search on 'rush camera eye live 1982' you should find it.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love the bass line in the Camera Eye especially in the lead jam :guitar: :musicnote: :rush: :yes:

When I was watching the Time Machine video, I saw Geddy do something at the beginning of the song I've never seen him do before on any other song - holding down the strings at the base of the arm.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There is a Signals tour video on YouTube that's got Camera Eye, although it doesn't help if you're trying to watch their playing close up (kind of far audience footage). I believe if you search on 'rush camera eye live 1982' you should find it.

 

I will look through my bootleg videos and see what I have. I have dial-up.

 

I don't know why they didn't include it on Exit...Stage Left.

Edited by Lorraine
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love the bass line in the Camera Eye especially in the lead jam :guitar: :musicnote: :rush: :yes:

When I was watching the Time Machine video, I saw Geddy do something at the beginning of the song I've never seen him do before on any other song - holding down the strings at the base of the arm.

And by "arm", you mean "neck", I presume?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love the bass line in the Camera Eye especially in the lead jam :guitar: :musicnote: :rush: :yes:

When I was watching the Time Machine video, I saw Geddy do something at the beginning of the song I've never seen him do before on any other song - holding down the strings at the base of the arm.

And by "arm", you mean "neck", I presume?

Yes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From a drummer's perspective...I don't know if I'm an exception or not, but I rarely know where to come in by counting. Sometimes, yes, in some passages. But as far as The Camera Eye is concerned- I think it's really hard to count, especially during the intro to that song, with what the keyboard is doing, before the guitar or the drums come in. But I've listened to it enough times, I know every segment of the intro well enough, that I can just feel the rhythm before it hits.

 

It is very subtle, in that one. But that's the best way I can describe it. It isn't a matter of counting. I can just feel it coming.

That's very much how you learn and play Rush. You simply have to listen over and over and absorb it so it's second nature. Trying to keep count, especially with the crazy time signature changes, is harder than Calculus. The beginning riff of YYZ for example.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd love to know how he played this on the Moving Pictures / Exit Stage Left tours, since the OB-X synth was off to his left where there's no microphone. There's also the trick of getting those sample/hold (blippity bloopity) parts to fade in and out. This might be doable with a foot pedal on the back though. Certainly this song got easier to play with the new synth/mic arrangements on the Signals tour.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd love to know how he played this on the Moving Pictures / Exit Stage Left tours, since the OB-X synth was off to his left where there's no microphone. There's also the trick of getting those sample/hold (blippity bloopity) parts to fade in and out. This might be doable with a foot pedal on the back though. Certainly this song got easier to play with the new synth/mic arrangements on the Signals tour.

 

LeChuck, do you have the audio bootlegs from that tour? They played it rather well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From a drummer's perspective...I don't know if I'm an exception or not, but I rarely know where to come in by counting. Sometimes, yes, in some passages. But as far as The Camera Eye is concerned- I think it's really hard to count, especially during the intro to that song, with what the keyboard is doing, before the guitar or the drums come in. But I've listened to it enough times, I know every segment of the intro well enough, that I can just feel the rhythm before it hits.

 

It is very subtle, in that one. But that's the best way I can describe it. It isn't a matter of counting. I can just feel it coming.

That's very much how you learn and play Rush. You simply have to listen over and over and absorb it so it's second nature. Trying to keep count, especially with the crazy time signature changes, is harder than Calculus. The beginning riff of YYZ for example.

 

A lot of times Alex makes it pretty easy to play in odd meters because he'll play an arpeggio that fits in the time sig and then just repeat it.

Edited by JARG
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd love to know how he played this on the Moving Pictures / Exit Stage Left tours, since the OB-X synth was off to his left where there's no microphone. There's also the trick of getting those sample/hold (blippity bloopity) parts to fade in and out. This might be doable with a foot pedal on the back though. Certainly this song got easier to play with the new synth/mic arrangements on the Signals tour.

 

There's been way too much water under the bridge since I saw the MP tour (I think they also played it on the Signals tour, but again, that was a long time ago), so I don't remember this specifically, but what would have prevented them from putting a mic by the OB for those tours?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not yet, I'm going to give a listen later tonight. I'm sure in typical Rush fashion they found a way to pull it off just like the record. But I am curious how they did it.

I'd love to see a video from that tour with them doing the song. Maybe I can find a good one tomorrow.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I got my stuff out. I have two from 4/9/83 but none from 4/8. I'm watching it now. It is from a Montreal show. It's unfortunate that the first almost two minutes of the song are played in the dark.

 

Haha, Geddy and his "hey!!" I love it. That man was born to be a performer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice! :yes: too bad it was a shortened version :( That was the detriment of having an opening act. Too bad they didn't come up with the "An Evening With :rush:" format earlier. It would've been great if they didn't have to feel the pressure of only a 90 minute set...

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

There is a Signals tour video on YouTube that's got Camera Eye, although it doesn't help if you're trying to watch their playing close up (kind of far audience footage). I believe if you search on 'rush camera eye live 1982' you should find it.

 

All you can really see is Neil's arms flailing away, and with tempos they played on that tour, what a sight! Love that video. Such a clean sound.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...